Phonograph-radio switch



Oct. 12, 1948.

J. L. SLATIN 2,451,248

PHONOGRAPH-RADIO swmcn Filed June 14, 19 45 3 Sheets-Sheet l INSULATION msumnnu INVENTOR. JD SEPH L- SLHTlN HTT D RNEY Oct.'12, 1948. J. L. SLATIN 2,451,248

PHONOGRAPH-RADI O SWITCH Filed June 14, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

JUEEPH LSLHTIN H'ITURNEY Oct. 12, 1948. J. L. SLATIN PHONOGRAPH-RADIO SWITCH 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed June 14, 1945 INVENTOR 51.5mm, BY.

HTTURNEY.

rim-WWI! WWI! WWII! WM!)IIWJIIWIHII Patented Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE PHONOGRAPH-RADIO SWITCH Joseph L. Slatin, Berwyn, Ill.

Application June 14, 1945, Serial No. 599,370

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in electrical switches, and more particularly directed to phonograph-radio switches of a class adapted to function automatically for stopping the operation of a phonograph and a radio after a predetermined or desired number of records have been played.

This invention accordingly consists of a phonograph-radio switch that will provide such new, novel and desirable features as being compact, easy to operate and inexpensive to manufacture and providing a phonograph-radio switch which will shut off a phonograph and radio after a predetermined or desired number of records have been played and conjointly with this operation will automatically connect the phonograph pickup with the audio circuit when the phonograph is employed, and will automatically connect the radio receiver with the audio circuit when the phonograph is not employed.

It is recognized that in the prior art numerous attempts have been made to provide a phonograph-radio switch mechanism of this general class, but to the best of the applicants knowledge none of the prior art structures have been successful and none have been accorded commercial recognition. It is believed that this fact results from complicated, elaborate and expensive features and other deficiencies of the prior art structures which so greatly increase the cost as to seriously handicap sales acceptance.

The present improvement in a phonographradio switch is directed to simplify the construction thus reducing the cost and increasing its versatility in use, and yet providing a phonograph-radio switch that is compact and requires a minimum of space, and a fool-proof easy operation with a minimum of expensive parts requiring replacement or adjustment.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved automatic shut-oil switch for electrically driven phonographs and other sound reproducing machines which may be employed in conjunction with different types of machines, such as a radio, said switch being designed to shut off the phonograph after a predetermined or desired number of records have been played.

More specifically, it is an important object of this invention to provide a phonograph-radio switch that will automatically shut off the radio simultaneously with the phonograph A further obj ect of this invention is to provide a phonograph-radio switch within which a radio circuit switch is employed to automatically connect the phonograph pick-up with the audio circuit when the phonograph is employed, and to automatically connect the radio receiver with the audio circuit when the phonograph is not employed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a phonograph-radio switch of the aforementioned character that is simple, compact, inexpensive to manufacture and requiring a minimum of space and parts, and can be operated for long periods of time without either adjustment or repairs.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the phonograph-radio switch showing one half of the view in section and one half in elevation and showing the general arrangement of parts, their functions and their relationship to each other.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the phonograph-radio switch on the line 22 on Fig. 1; one half of the view is shown in section showing the arrangement of the catch arm and rachet; one half of the view is shown in plan showing the selector knob and dial and the audio circuit switch.

Fig. 3 is a section of a portion of the phonograph-radio switch taken on the line 33 on Fig. 1 showing the arrangement of the contacts, the brushes, and the insulated contact ring and the construction thereof.

Fig. 4 represents a diagrammatic view of a wiring circuit employing the switch with which the present invention is particularly concerned in a phonograph and radio combination, the switch being enlarged to more clearly show the con struction thereof. 1

The drawings are to be understood as being more or less of a schematic character for the purpose of disclosing a typical or preferred form of the improvements contemplated herein.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4, the numeral [0 designates a phonograph-radio switch with which the present invention is particularly concerned and is shown advantageously employed in conjunction with a conventional phonograph designated in its entirety by the letter A, and a conventional radio receiver designated in its entirety by theletter B.

The phonograph A preferably includes a pickup arm C of conventional design, a record changer mechanism D and a motor driven turn- 3 table E. Phonograph records F are illustrated as being supported in the usual manner by the changer mechanism D.

The radio receiver B is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4 since it may be of any conventional design and preferably includes an audio circuit G and a speaker. H and a switch J which is adapted to be employed when it is desired to operate the radio set independently without the automatic operation of the switch II] which will be hereinafter more fully described. A plug K adapted to be inserted in a conventional electric wall socket (not shown) is provided to bring into the device suitable electric power. Interconnecting wires between the various parts are illustrated in heavy lines to show the general wiring diagram when the switch I9 is employed with a phone graph-radio combination. Sufiice it to say, since the invention is not particularly concerned with the structure of the phonograph or radio generally, they will not be described further'in detail. It is to be understood that details-of the phonograph and radio have been shown and described herein by way of illustration and may be modified to suit particular conditions and I do not wish to belimited to the details of construction of the phonograph or radio as set forth herein.

Having thus described the general environment surrounding the phonograph-radio switch ID with which the present invention is particularly concerned, the specific construction and function of the parts thereof will now be described in detail.

In Fig. 1 the selector knob has been designated by the numeral Hfsaid selector knob H being adjustably fixed to a shaft l2 by a set screw IS and having an indicating pointer M. A ball bearing I5 is provided at the lower end of the shaft I 2, said ball bearing l5 being adjustably held into position by a set screw l6 and lock nuts I! and I8. A steel frame is is provided to form a housing for said phonograph-radio switch. The steel frame 19 is fastened to the inside of the gionograph cabinet wall 29 by screws 21 and 'A dial 23 having spaced numerals, continuous and stop positions marked thereon, as shown in Fig. 2, indicate the number of records to be played. The dial 23 is fastened to the outer surface of the phonograph cabinet wall by the screws 2;! and 22 and is visible to the operator so that he easily makes his selections.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig; 2 I find rachet wheel 24 adjustably fixed to the shaft I2 by a set screw 25. The rachet Wheel'24 is made up of two parts to facilitate easy manufacture. One part composes the plate which is divided into fourteen equal parts, but has only twelve cogs 2 5. The plate is fastened to a hub 21 by means of screws 28.

A catch arm 29 is provided having a pawl shaped end which engages the cogs 26 on the rachet wheel 24. The catch arm 29 may be powered by a cam, or an off-set arm (not shown) attached to any convenient part of the phonograph changer mechanism which will give the catch arm 29 a forward and reverse motion at the time a record is being changed. The catch arm 29 is held against the depth adjusting stud 30 by means of a light spring and rests on the table 3!, said table being provided with a slotted ho e 32 to allow adjustment of the depth adjusting stud 30. The table 3! is fastened to the switch frame'T S' by means'of screws 33 and 34.

It has been noted that the rachet wheel 24 is v catch arm. 29 should ride free and not engage the cogs 26.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 we find a contact ring 36 mounted on an insulated disc 3'! which is also divided into fourteen equal segments, each segment having a notch 38. It will be noted that one part of the contact ring 33 is removed at point 39 and is insulated from the rest of the contact ring. The insulated contact ring is fastened to a hub 49 by means of screws 4! as shown in Fig. 1. The hub 43 is adjustably fixed to the shaft I 2 by means of set screw It should be notedthat the insulated portion at point 39 is synchronized with the rachet wheel 24 and the selector knob H.

Placing the selector knob H on the point i2 (twelve more records to be played) as shown in Fig. 2, the rachet wheel 24 is synchronized so as to permit cob 26a to come into the path of and engage the catch arm 29. At the end of the record the phonograph changer mechanism goes into operation to change a record and thereupon actuates the catch arm 29 so as to pull cog 23b into its path and the selector knob pointer i4 will position to point at 11 (eleven more records to be played) on the dial 23. This process repeats until the selector knob pointer l4 will come to position 1 (one more record to be played) on the dial 2'5 and the cog 260 on the rachet wheel 24 will be in the path of catch arm 29. At the end of that record the catch arm 29 will engage the cog 26c and rotate it with the selector knob pointer 14 to a position indicating stop on the dial 23 and thereupon bring the insulated part 39 ofthe contact ring 36 to rest between the brushes 43 and 44. Thus, when the insulated part 39 of the contact ring 36 rotates and comes to a position between the two brushes 43 and 44, the circuit supplied by brush 45 through the contact ring 36 is broken and causes both the radio and the phonograph to come to a stop be-= cause brush 43 supplies current for the phonograph and brush 44 supplies current for the radio. Therefore, it is possible to employ both the radio and phonographsimultaneously through the contact ring 36 when the phonograph is to be played. This feature allows for the use of the radio to make recordings of radio programs if desired. Y

It is possible to employ the radio alone if desired without interferring with the phonograph because when the insulated part 39 of the com tact ring 36 rests between the two brushes 43 and 44 current is prevented from entering brush 43 from the brush 44 where it would interfere with the phonograph. 3

The brush 45 being the positive brush, or the brush which furnishes the current for the brushes 43 and 44 through the contact ring 36, makes contact on the circumference of the contact ring 35. The brush 45 must contain two contact prongs spaced so as to at least cover two equal segments of the contact ring 39. The purpose of this'is to make certain that the brush 45 will make a positive contact regardless of the position of the contact ring 36. In other words, when the insulated part 39 on the contact ring rotates and makes contact with one of the prongs of the brush 45, the other prong will make a contact with the uninsulated part of the contact ring 36 to supply the current.

The fourteen equal parts or segments on the contact ring 39 are designated by the notches 38 which are machined on the circumference of the contact ring 35. The purpose of the notches 38 is to make the rotating mechanism of the switch stop in a definite position each time the position is changed by permitting the rolled ends of the prongs on the brush to rest in the notches 38, and also, to create enough friction when the proper position is reached to permit the catch arm 29 to slip out of the cog 2-6 of the rachet wheel 24 and pass on out of the way of the rachet wheel 24, thus eliminating unnecessary noise which may be caused by the rachet wheel 24 and catch arm 29 while indexing the selector knob H.

An audio switch 46 is provided and fastened to frame I 9. The audio switch 46 is composed of three contact prongs 41, 48 and 49, as indicated in Fig. 2. The contact prong 41 is the phonograph pick-up prong, and the contact prong 48 is the radio receiver prong both leading to the audio contact prong 49. The contact prongs 4? and 48 each have one contact point, while the audio contact prong 49 has two contact points, one to make a contact with prong 4'! which con meets the phonograph pick-up with the audio circuit, and the other point to make contact with prong 48, which connects the radio receiver with the audio circuit.

The audio switch 46 is operated by a. cam 50 which is mounted on the shaft I2 and held into position by the set screw 5!, said cam 50 being synchronized with the rachet wheel 24 and the selector knob H. The cam 59 is synchronized in such a manner as to permit cam 50 to come to rest against insulator 52 of the audio contact prong 4 9, when the selector knob pointer I 4 rotates to the position stop on the dial 23. When the switch is in the aforementioned position, the phonograph and the radio are automatically turned off, and the cam 50 forces the audio prong 49 to make contact with the prong 48, thus automatically connecting the radio receiver with the audio circuit, and preparing for the radio alone to be played.

When the phonograph is to be employed, it is necessary to turn the selector knob pointer i4 away from the stop position. This action will turn the cam 50 away from insulator 52, and permit the audio contact prong 49 to spring back against the phonograph prong 47, thus automatically connecting the phonograph pick-up with the audio circuit and thereupon the phonograph is ready to operate.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the applicant has provided a highly efficient and desirable phonograph-radio switch having such new, novel and desirable features as being compact, easy to operate and inexpensive to manufacture and providing a phonograph-radio switch which will shut off a phonograph and radio after a predetermined or desired number of records have been played and conjointly with this operation will automatically connect the phonograph pick-up with the audio circuit when the phonograph is employed, and will automatically connect the radio receiver with the audio circuit when the phonograph is not employed.

It may accordingly be seen that the applicant has provided a phonograph-radio switch which efficiently fulfills the several objects, hereinbefore described, in a thoroughly practical manner.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to belimited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a, phonograph-radio switch, the combination comprising a rotatable shaft, a selector knob having a pointer and adjustably fixed to said shaft, a ratchet wheel adjustably fixed to said shaft and having twelve cogs and two blank spaces equally spaced on its circumference, a catch arm adapted to engage a cog on said ratchet wheel thus rotating said shaft and selector knob, a contact ring insulatedin part and having fourteen equally spaced notches machined on its circumference, a positive brush having two resilient prongs engaging and resting in two of the aforesaid notches on said contact ring to transfer ciurent into said contact ring and to cause the contact ring to stop in a definite and proper position by creating friction to permit the catch arm to slip out of said cog of said rachet wheel, and brushes to contact said contact ring to distribute current to the radio or phonograph or both.

2. In a phonograph-radio switch, the combination comprising a rotatable shaft, a ratchet Wheel operatively associated with said shaft, a catch arm adapted to engage said ratchet wheel thus rotating said shaft, a contact ring operatively associated with said shaft and insulated in part and having a plurality of equally spaced notches disposed on its circumference, a positive brush having resilient prongs engaging and resting in the aforesaid notches on said contact ring to transfer current into said contact ring and to cause the contact ring to stop in a definite and proper position by creating a predetermined friction, and brushes to contact said contact ring to distribute current to the radio or phonograph or both.

3. In a single pole triple throw switch comprising a rotatable shaft and a ratchet wheel operatively associated with said shaft and a catch arm adapted to engage said ratchet wheel thus rotating said shaft, the combination of a contact ring having a plurality of equally spaced notches disposed on its circumference, a positive brush having resilient prongs engaging and resting in the aforesaid notches on said contact ring to transfer current into said contact ring and to cause the contact ring to stop in a definite and proper position, and brushes to contact said contact ring to distribute current away from said contact ring.

4. In a single pole triple throw switch, the combination of a rotatable contact ring having a plurality of equally spaced notches disposed on its circumference, a positive brush having resilient prongs engaging and resting in the aforesaid notches on said contact ring to transfer current into said contact ring and to cause the contact ring to stop in a definite and proper position, and brushes to contact said contact ring to distribute current away from said contact ring,

5. A single pole triple throw switch comprising a rotatable shaft, a contact ring operatively associated with said shaft and having a plurality of 7 equally spaced notches disposed on its circumference, a positive brush having resilient prongs engagin and resting in the aforesaid notches on said contact ring to transfer current into said contact ring and to cause the contact ring to stop in a definite and proper position, and brushes to contact said contact ring to distribute current away from said Contact ring, in combination with a cam means carried by said rotatable shaft, and a second switch mechanically operatively associated with said first mentioned switch, said cam means having portions thereof for engagement and disengagement with portions of said second switch, thereby respectively to change the relative disposition of the contacts of said second switch.

6. In a single pole triple throw switch comprising a rotatable shaft and a ratchet wheel operatively associated with said shaft and a catch arm adapted to engage said ratchet wheel thus rotating said shaft, the combination of a contact ring having a plurality of equally spaced notches disposed on its circumference, a positive brush having resilient prongs engaging and resting in the aforesaid notches on said contact ring to transfer current into said contact ring and to cause the contact ring to stop in a definite and proper position, brushes to contact said contact ring to distribute current away from said contact ring, a cam means carried by said shaft, and electrical contacts, said cam means having portions thereof adapted to engage and disengage portions of said contacts at predetermined times, thereby respectively to change the relative relationship of said contacts.

7. A single pole triple throw switch comprising a rotatable shaft, a cam means carried by said rotatable shaft, electrical contacts, said cam means having portions thereof adapted to engage and disengage portions of said contacts at predetermined tiines, thereby respectively to change the relative relationship of said contacts, a contact ring having'a plurality of equally spaced notches disposed on its circumference, a positive brush having resilient prongs engaging and resting in the aforesaid notches on said contact ring to transfer current into said contact ring and to cause the contact ring to stop in a definite and proper position, and brushes to contact said contact ring to distribute current away from said contact ring.

8. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a first switch comprising electrical contacts and a cam means carried by said rotatable shaft, said cam means having portions thereof adapted to engage and disengage portions of said contacts at predetermined times, thereby respectively to change the relative relationship of said contacts, and a second switch mechanically operatively associated with said first switch and comprising a contact ring carried by said rotatable shaft and having a plurality of equally spaced notches disposed on its circumference, a positive brush having resilient prongs engaging and resting in said notches to transfer current into said contact ring and to cause the contact ring to stop in a definite and proper position, and brushes to contact said contact ring to distribute current away from said contact ring.

JOSEPH L. SLATIN.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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